People on Time Covers 1989

American attorney, diplomat and statesman. He served as White House Chief of Staff, US Secretary of the Treasury and U.S. Secretary of State under Reagan and Bush Sr.

First lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993.

American politician, diplomat, and businessman who served as the US president from 1989 to 1993. He also served as the vice president from 1981 to 1989

American actor, filmmaker, and musician. He starred in such films as The Untouchables, Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, JFK, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and Dances with Wolves.

American actor. He starred in Risky Business, Top Gun, The Color of Money, Rain Man, and Born on the Fourth of July. He later starred in A Few Good Men, The Firm, Interview with the Vampire, and the romance Jerry Maguire.

American actor. He starred in Platoon, Shadow of the Vampire, The Last Temptation of Christ and Mississippi Burning in 1988

British chemist who worked in electrochemistry. Premature announcement of his cold fusion research, regarding excess heat in heavy water, caused a media sensation and elicited skepticism and criticism from many in the scientific community.

Soviet and Russian politician who served as the last leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to the country's dissolution in 1991. He served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 and additionally as head of state beginning in 1988.

American actor. Won awards for The French Connection and Unforgiven. His other Oscar-nominated roles were in Bonnie and Clyde, I Never Sang for My Father, and Mississippi Burning in 1988.

American comedian, actor and talk show host. He hosted his own late-night talk show from 1989 until 1994, and again from 2013 to 2014. He has starred in Martial Law, Coming to America, Coming 2 America, and Harlem Nights.

American sailor. He was the captain of Exxon Valdez during her 1989 oil spill. He was accused of being intoxicated which contributed to the disaster, but was cleared of this charge at his 1990 trial after witnesses testified that he was sober around the time of the accident.

United States Marine Corps colonel who was captured in Lebanon in 1988 while serving on a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission. He was held hostage, tortured and eventually murdered by his captors.

Iranian Islamic revolutionary, politician and religious leader who served as the first supreme leader of Iran from 1979 until his death in 1989. He was the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the leader of the Iranian Revolution.

American electrochemist known for his work on cold fusion in the 1980s and 1990s

American professional baseball player and manager. He played in the MLB from 1963 to 1986, most prominently as a member of the Cincinnati Reds. During and after his playing career, he served as the manager of the Reds from 1984 to 1989. In August 1989, he was penalized with permanent ineligibility from baseball amidst accusations that he gambled on baseball games while he played for and managed the Reds

American television broadcast journalist known for anchoring major programs on two networks including ABC World News Tonight, Good Morning America, 20/20, and Primetime newsmagazine while at ABC News. During her tenure at CBS News, she hosted CBS Morning and was the first woman correspondent on 60 Minutes.

Soviet and Georgian politician and diplomat who governed Georgia for several non-consecutive periods from 1972 until his resignation in 2003 and also served as the final Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1985 to 1990.

American politician and military officer who represented Texas in the US Senate from 1961 to 1985. Known for leading the Commission, which investigated the Iran-Contra Affair.

American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the US president from 2017 to 2021.

English humanitarian and author. As an envoy for the Church of England, he travelled to Lebanon to try to secure the release of four hostages. He was himself kidnapped and held captive from 1987 to 1991.

American Founding Father, military officer, politician and statesman who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797.